My last night in NZ

(skipping one day on GBI....I will come back to GBI in another post....this post is about my last night of the trip...I am on a plane which has no wifi..typing in my notes..somewhere over the ocean between New Zealand and Hawaii)

Waiheke Island was a 30 minute ferry ride away...I didn't explore too much on it..I was scared to get too far away from the ferry port and somehow miss my ferry back to Auckland and the show...it was a beautiful island with great infrastructure...I think if you were an Aucklander...you would try to live on this island...at least thats what I would do. Sun begins to set...I go back to the bus stop waiting for my bus...it is late..the ferry is leaving at 6...It is now 5:30. I hold my thumb up....one car passes..waves at me...the next car makes eye contact and keeps driving...the third car.....puts on a blinker...pulls directly in front of me...rolls down the window..."Get in" a sweet white haired woman says. We are going to the same place..she is picking up her husband..her name is Merle..she is a 4th generation kiwi....I haven't met many 4th generation kiwis in my time here. Maybe I just wasn't in the right places..but still..very cool considering how many people have moved here from all over much later in the existence of the country.

I make the ferry...James Taylor in my ears...the sun is setting...I can barely see the high-rises of Auckland way out on the horizon...I spent most of the time on the top deck for this short voyage...I am pumped...its a little surreal..this concert is the last experience I will have in NZ...and I'm on the rooftop of a ferry cruising through a sound with islands around me...a beautiful orange glow..sinking behind them.My life is transitioning tonight...not into a woman...but into whatever my life will look like on the otherside of this trip...I'm reflecting...and I'm soaking it in..I'm imagining a future.

 I put "Up on the Roof"-live version on repeat...it became the sound and song the entire ferry ride and in line for the show...it has this beautiful ....growing...progression.....an ascension.....with a climax towards the end.I should know the appropriate term for that. The lyrics...."we got the stars up above us and the city lights below...up on my roof" and "at night the stars put on a show for free"...I love the lyrics...I also love the idea of laying on a rooftop in Manhattan with someone doing absolutely nothing. 

My last night in New Zealand was spent with James Taylor and a few thousand other 70 year old kiwis. I loved every single moment of the evening. I laughed, cried, smiled, and sang along to my favorites...little knee taps with my hands along the way...feet tapping on the floor.

A few weeks ago Ticketmaster sent me an email saying the seating arrangement was modified and that my seats have been relocated....it's been so long that I couldn't even remember where they were originally....I looked later...they were originally in the corner..I was moved to James's stage left. 2nd row off the floor...seats are kind of close together...I had imagined Spark Arena being the largest venue in the country...that it would be huge....I think I'm used to State Farm in Atlanta...which I think is just a phenomenal arena...and it's huge. I was a little worried that James wouldn't sell out an arena that size. I don't know how many people in NZ love him though...turns out...a lot of them do. 

It was intimate...for an arena..seated on the floor..and then two levels around it. There are no big screens...which...I like...it was like a theatre show but on a bigger scale..created a little more darkness rather having two bright screens on either side of him...you see his mic stand and barstool sitting there...I'm excited........looked like a velvet back drop behind him..very pretty.......the lighting was soothing and appropriate on every song...

It has been a little while since I've been to a chill sit down show with this many people...tbh...the last time was probably James Taylor two years ago in Atlanta..he played after Jackson Browne...and James's son played with him that night. Very cool. I remember crying at his songs that night...I shouldn't have been there. It was like a Wednesday..my wife and dogs at home alone. I'm alone. I cry at this James Taylor for many different reasons than I cry at the New Zealand show for. The amount of change that has happened to me internally and externally between seeing him two years ago to now...is...it's a lot to process....of course..his music is thought provoking...as well as easy listening...and..and the lights...and just being as present as possible alone...my mind crosses from the state I was in the first time I ever saw him and the state that I'm in now...I snap out of it between songs..my friend James is funny.

His first joke..after he finishes his first song..he moves the barstool he's sitting on a little bit away from the microphone...one leg of it catches a cord..he says "Been having a little trouble moving my stool recently" sits down..."it seems to have passed now"

The crowd loves him. I love him. He is like 6'4" I believe...taller than anyone else that is on the stage. He's got his cool little hat..idk what you call it...I'll probably just call it a James hat for the rest of my life.

He talks to us between every single song. He has jokes and is incredibly witty when a kiwi shouts out "how many guitars you got, James"...he does change guitars about every other song.... or "New Zealand loves you"...and he operates so smoothly in his quick responses...and he gets a big laugh or a big awe every time.its always the most sincere/genuine...or funny response..there aren't awkward moments...if there ever is a long pause of silence whatever he is going to say next will be great...he talks about how he loves awkward silences...He tells you on some songs which verse means what..and why he wrote it..and who its about...he dedicates a lot of his music to other people and places....he mentions Carolina several times...he pokes fun at Australia.... and kids with the crowd that NZ is better. They love it.

Throughout the show...he introduces his "All-Star Band"...one by one....James Taylor has perfected the art of a stage presence...he is an entertainer through and through...and I think he's the best at it...because you can tell he's just being himself...he's genuine... and handles himself better on stage than anyone I have ever seen. I know thats bold...I firmly believe this. He doesn't wait til the second to last song of the night and run through each person's name on the drums or bass etc quickly...he introduces everyone...one by one..from bass, guitar, keyboard, drums, violin, and back up singers..throughout the show.

He is strategic in when he introduces them....it was always right before whatever song was next....that showcased the other musicians talent the most..and even the song after that...each time he would introduce one of them...it was like the crowd loved James...and if James loves this person...then they do too..there was no doubt everyone else on stage was extremely talented..but people are there to see James Taylor. Every time...he would step over to them...shake their hand and allow the applause to continue...he would give genuine hugs...and go on and on about his appreciation for each of them. I look up to James. I always have...and genuine...is probably the main characteristic that drew me to him as a person.

"This song is called never die young...and whoever might be thinking of doing that...don't".......subtle...but....effective...and I love it..and I appreciate it.

He is a true entertainer. He took off his jacket...the crowd cheered...he said...."later I might take off my teeth"......he acknowledges his old man jokes....he acknowledges jokes that he has used for years that don't really work anymore as technology and the world have progressed..he said one before steam roller...I can't remember all of the joke so I'll leave it there.

He mentions a song he wrote about John Belushi...his dear friend who died young...James briefly mentions his own addiction during this segment. I have known about this...in detail. Another reason why I admire him. His ability to overcome. He drinks water and coffee on stage it looks like. He mixes in heartfelt messages, funny messages, and lets us into his life. Just so good....adds so much more value to a show. I hear the people behind me whispering...I bet you this song is next...or he says something on stage and a lady says...."he's just so sweet"...people adore this man.Men and Women. I talk to some around me...they talked about when he came to Auckland last he was with his friend Carole King....they all loved that show so much...he has aged a little since then...I can even tell from two years ago...but man...on the fun songs...he gets up and will jump around and do a few moves.

There is an intermission...when we return...he plays all of the classics. Everyone knows every word. Up on the roof....so cool to see it live....and then....You've got a friend....is just special as you know. I cry during that one.

There are like 3 "encore" songs....he jokes about the band trying to look "spontaneous"...as encores are kind of an expected thing nowadays...I don't remember too many times in the past couple years where a band walks off....and they don't come back on for one or two more songs....if they do finish when they say they do....it is usually very obvious and the hardcore fans know they are serious...and if you see them leaving...then the show is over. Jp Graves and I talked about this one time at The War on Drugs show...love ya JP.

The last song of the night..."you can close your eyes" I quoted it in the last post. ugh...so good, mate.

It sets in...my trip is over...I am pleased though...I'm not sad about it. Its weird...I did everything I wanted to do...I did more than I thought I could do...It has all been a dream come true....It's okay that it was ending. I walk next to a guy who went to UCLA in the 90's...he tells me some elaborate story of how memet Tupac within two days of his death...and it crushed him. I think I believe him considering the amount of details...he loved rap from Atlanta...I can talk enough to get by...but it's really not my thing. This guy was not at the James Taylor concert...he just got caught up in the crowd.

On the way back we approach a busy road...a big crosswalk...there are apartment buildings high above the road....

Most of the windows are dark...except for one that has colorful lights streaming down it like rain..and the room directly underneath it...you can see a silhouette of man doing work on his laptop....It was in front of us for a little while...I snapped a few pics...stared at him...at this point I'm listening to Shell by Hovvdy again....my thought process leaves the trip....I see myself...ending this chapter...and the second one beginning. 

I rest my head on my last night. Exhausted, excited, accomplished, and ready for the next adventure. The next adventure is as real as it gets...and its starting.....now..

I will write about various other parts of the trip moving forward....Including my transition back to America and the days leading up to my next move.

Much love.A few more posts left.